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REEVs: The Hybrid Future or EV Detour?
4 Oct
Summary
- Range-extended EVs use a battery and a small engine to generate electricity.
- These vehicles offer significantly more range than traditional EVs.
- Automakers are exploring REEVs to combat consumer range anxiety.
Range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs), which combine a substantial battery with a small internal combustion engine, are gaining traction as a way to overcome consumer range anxiety. The engine in an REEV functions solely as a generator, producing electricity to extend the vehicle's range when the battery depletes, rather than directly driving the wheels. This technology allows for substantially greater overall travel distances compared to conventional electric vehicles.
Globally, major automakers like Ford, Hyundai, and Suzuki are developing REEVs, with projections indicating 3 million units by 2030. In India, the government's decision to equate REEVs with EVs under corporate average fuel efficiency (CAFE) norms has spurred debate. JSW MG Motor India is a frontrunner, having unveiled a platform for REEV production, while Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki could also introduce the technology through their parent companies.
